Chairman Mao Zedong, shortly prior to its death, this time he wanted to watch everybody walk out instead of going first. Mao said: "If you are not going, I will also not go"...

毛泽东："你们不走，我也不走" ...

Mao Zedong is still very popular in China because he is considered the founder of New China and laid the first foundation, on which other late Chinese leaders could built with Deng Xiaoping in front.

All revolutions and turning points for countries in history have cost blood, as in the West, only China is pursuing it much later than most Western countries. Don't forget we did the same thing in the West, and often much worse.

I'm from the Netherlands and we for instance have a much more bloody history than China with slavery, oppression, colonisation and murder within and even outside our country. That period was the Dutch golden age and the fundament for our wealth today. We even admire and honor the people in charge during those times with statues and galleries, just like how the Chinese honor Mao.

In hard times with an economic embargo from the entire West unfortunately many Chinese died during the great famine. He also did make a few mistakes though, however during his time leading China he did a fair amount to help out the disadvantaged of China. Mao is therefore still most popular amongst the poor and workers.

From a Chinese perspective: Without Mao there would be no united China as we see today.